The design also allows diffuse and indirect light to enter the building.

The Hongzhu Housing Sales Center is located on a narrow parcel on a street by the Taoyuan County exit of national highway. The three story building features a parking garage and entrance on the bottom with two floors of office and meeting space above. Taking full advantage of the site’s footprint, the building expands to its extents and the massing takes its form from the available space.

Lab Modus took inspiration from the dragon, which is a lucky animal and considered a symbol of success and luck. In particular the dragon’s scales were reinterpreted in an architectural form to aid in the energy performance of the building. The building’s inner layer is clad in glass and then covered with a double layer of perforated metal panels. Articulation and gaps in the outer shell create a gap to allow natural ventilation and minimize solar heat gain. The design also allows diffuse and indirect light to enter the building. A dragon’s outer shell thus reduces the building’s need for air conditioning and artificial light.